The Testing Camera

Peter H. Reynolds, creativity advocate and best-selling author and illustrator, and co-founder of FableVision Learning, has created a new animated short called The Testing Camera — a whimsical poke at high-stakes, standardized testing and a reminder that real assessment is as easy, and — at the same time — as challenging as getting to really know the gifts and talents of every child.

(If you don't have access to YouTube, you can also view the film on Vimeo.)

“We’ve gone through a very test-centric decade which, in my opinion, has consumed a lot of time, energy, and resources," Reynolds shares. “Many teachers have had to adhere to new mandates and measures that require a ‘teach to the test’ approach. Public schools redirected funding for art, music, theater, libraries, field trips, and more. It's a discouraging picture for those trying to reach all children in creative, engaging ways.”

Reynolds, who is known for his books encouraging creativity, The Dot, Ish, Sky Color and The North Star among many others, penned this whimsical and poignant story about a young girl named Daisy who, dismayed at her art class being canceled, nervously faces her turn with the "Testing Camera." This huge apparatus snaps at her with a few blinding flashes of light. Weeks later, her father’s reaction to the test results surprises Daisy in a most wonderful way.

“This is my gift to educators to remind them to follow their instincts and remember why they got into teaching in the first place: to see the potential in every child, to nurture those emerging gifts and talents, and to change lives,” Reynolds shared.

The film was produced by FableVision, the transmedia studio in Boston founded by Peter and his twin brother, Paul Reynolds, author of Going Places and the Sydney & Simon series. The Testing Camera was directed by John Lechner with music by Tony Lechner, and animated by a team of young animators interning at FableVision for the summer. Broadway actor Chester Gregory lends his voice to the project.

The film is being released on the web free of charge by FableVision Learning. Educators, learning communities, parents and caregivers are urged to share The Testing Camera to begin or enhance constructive conversations on how to better support authentic learning in the classroom and beyond.

A free companion poster by Peter H. Reynolds: “I AM NOT THE TEST SCORE, I AM NOT DATA, I AM NOT THE LABELS STUCK ON BY OTHERS”

Peter adds, “We need to innovate our assessments of how kids are doing, and, at the same time, to reevaluate what our priorities are. Priorities drive policy and policies drive funding. My hope is that our film will be part of the change. The testing industry ballooned to 2.5 billion in 2012, while roughly 1.2 million students a year still never get their high school diploma. And even those who do make it past the testing camera often carry the burden of a distorted image about their own potential for decades to come. From my perspective, making schools wonderful places for kids — and for teachers — will help move things forward.”

The Bouncing Dot Music Video

There are dozens of ways to conduct your Dot Day celebration! This September 15th-ish celebrate with "The Dot Song." Singer-songwriter Emily Dale collaborated with Peter H. Reynolds to create this beautiful melody inspired by The Dotand International Dot Day!

Listen and sing along to this uplifting tune about creativity! FableVision Studios developed this amazing animation to engage your students with this captivating song. Peter has created this free handwritten lyric sheet for you to share with your students and encourage them to Make Their Mark this Dot Day.

This animation brings to live the collaboration between singer-songwriter Emily Dale and Peter H. Reynolds, author and illustrator of The Dot. "The Dot Song"...

The Bouncing Dot Official Music Video for The Dot Song

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March is Creativity Month!

March is here! We are happy to re-release one of our popular classroom posters: March is Creativity Month. You'll find great tips for celebrating creativity month. Our lead ambassador (and dear educator friend) Terry Shay wrote the tips, while Peter H. Reynolds provided the illustrations. Keep in mind — you can take these tips and apply them to celebrate creativity in ANY month!

March (2014) is creativity month!

Download this poster.

New Peter H. Reynolds Poster: We're a 5 C's Classroom

Display this new downloadable poster by Peter H. Reynolds to help students keep the 5 C's in mind. Enjoy!

Peter H. Reynolds Poster: We're a 5 C's Classroom

From Peter H. Reynolds: Inspire Students to Commit to Their Goals for 2013

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January is a perfect time to encourage students to commit to goals for the year ahead! Download these goal cards by Peter H. Reynolds, cut them out, and distribute them to your class. Ask each student to write one important goal for the year ahead and sign it as part of his or her commitment to working towards that goal. Post the cards on a bulletin board or classroom wall and check in with students from time to time to see what progress they have made. A little encouragement and a few reminders will go a long way!

Download the goal cards template or click below:

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How do you help your students commit to their goals? Comment below to share your tips!

New Peter H. Reynolds Poster! Celebrate Digital Learning Day on February 6, 2013

On February 6th, we invite you to join us in celebrating Digital Learning Day, a national celebration of teachers that shines a spotlight on successful instructional technology practice in the classroom.

In honor of this spectacular day, and to applaud the powerful impact digital learning can have on students' lives, Peter H. Reynolds created this fun downloadable poster:

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Spread the word about Digital Learning Day by proudly displaying this printable poster on your classroom wall, and encourage your colleagues and students to join in the fun!

Visit the official Digital Learning Day website to learn more and sign up today.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! A Special Poster for You...

We are so grateful to the many teachers who are inspiring their students and moving the world to a better place. As a thank you, we've re-released our popular "Brightest Stars" poster. You can download the PDF for free now through January 11, 2013!